Italy Exported 215 Million Euros of Textile Machinery to Turkey in 2022
Despite problems such as wars, rising energy costs, and a raw material shortage, Italian textile machinery manufacturers ended 2022 with a 10% growth rate. ACIMIT, the head organization of Italian textile machinery manufacturers, predicts a growth in the demand for textile machinery for the period 2023–2026.
Alessandro Zucchi, President of ACIMIT, whom we interviewed for the special issue of “Italy Textile Machinery Industry” of our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine, said; “Despite the negative economic conditions and widespread political tensions, ACIMIT forecasts for the period 2023 – 2026 still show a slight growth in demand for textile machinery. So Italian foreign sales are expected to increase too. According to our estimates Turkey, India and Uzbekistan will be fastest growing markets for Italian exports in 2023.”
“Despite the crises, the upward trend of our industry goes on in 2022”
First of all, how was 2022 for Italian textile machinery manufacturers? Can you explain this with machine production, machine sales figures and growth figures?
According to preliminary data in 2022, the value of Italian machinery production is expected to exceed 2.5 billion euros, up about 10% on the previous year. Exports account for more than 85% of this value. Despite the negative factors like the inflationary pressures and political crises caused by the pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war so even in 2022 the upward trend of our industry goes on.
What is the rate of exports of Italian textile machinery manufacturers to Turkey? Which were the most exported machines respectively?
Turkey is the second foreign market of the Italian textile machinery manufacturers, behind China, In the first nine months of 2022 Italy exported to Turkey textile machines for a value of 215 million euros with a 22% increase on the same period of 2021. This value accounts for 13% of Italian textile machinery exports. The Italian machines most in demand in the Turkish market are finishing machines (28% of total exports), followed by knitting ones (26%).
Energy crisis, Russia-Ukraine War, increase in raw material prices, etc. problems affect the textile machinery sector as well as all other sectors. How are ACIMIT member companies affected by these crises? What is the roadmap of companies regarding this process?
These are negative factors that have affected the business activities of our companies. Production costs have risen, but not only for Italian companies. This has allowed them to hold their market shares in many important Countries. The Russia-Ukraine war, moreover, has conditioned especially the energetic costs, while Russian market is not a major one for many Italian manufacturers.
“Turkey, India and Uzbekistan will be fastest growing markets for Italian exports in 2023”
What innovations, trends and developments are expected in the textile machinery industry in the near future?
All the textile machinery companies are working to bring innovative technological solutions to ITMA 2023 that will take place in Milan from 8 to 14 June. Topics such as sustainability automation and digitalization will be reflected in the innovations that will be presented at ITMA.
What kind of changes will occur in the export markets of the world textile machinery manufacturers? Do Italian textile machinery manufacturers carry out a study on these markets?
We constantly monitor the foreign markets, both established and emerging ones. Despite the negative economic conditions and widespread political tensions, ACIMIT forecasts for the period 2023 – 2026 still show a slight growth in demand for textile machinery. So Italian foreign sales are expected to increase too. According to our estimates Turkey, India and Uzbekistan will be fastest growing markets for Italian exports in 2023.
Especially with the energy crisis, the emphasis on sustainable and environmentally friendly production began to gain weight. What will be the priorities of ACIMIT member companies when developing products in the new period?
As I mentioned before Sustainability and Digitalization will be the pillars for the development of new products in the textile machinery sector. In addition the R&D activities of Italian manufacturers focus on reducing energy consumption and raw materials. The reduced use of resources, for a lower environmental impact, is just one of the topics through which the Italian manufacturers declines its commitment on the side of sustainability. A commitment that ACIMIT has made its own by developing the Green Label project. About 40 member companies joined the project and a survey on the Green Labels produced by our manufacturers from 2016 to date, confirm that the quantified avoided emissions using green labelled machines are 1.2 bn tons CO2 eq., corresponding to 221,187 cars travelling for 35.000 km over a year. It is a great result!
“Despite the Problems, I Continue to Be Hopeful”
What are your expectations about the World Textile sector and especially the textile machinery sector in 2023?
2023 will still be a year of uncertainty for the global textile industry. Problems in logistics, supply bottlenecks for raw materials, electronic components, and others shortages and rising prices for intermediate products and thus considerable shortages in supply chains worldwide are still being felt. Despite the above mentioned problems related with our day-by-day business I remain hopeful.
2023 will be a year with intense exhibitions. How do ACIMIT member companies prepare for these exhibitions?
In 2023 most of the Italian companies will be focused on the participation at ITMA in Milan. 2023 edition will be the largest ITMA ever, with about 1500 companies all over the world and 380 Italian exhibitors. ITMA will be a unique and not-to-be-missed opportunity to show the whole world the uniqueness of our technologies and the Italian creativity. In particular, sustainability and digitalization will be the pillars of the Italian supply on stage at ITMA.
Interview: Dilek HAYIRLI
